Herman B Wells

Herman B Wells was an American educator, banker, and diplomat who served as the eleventh president of Indiana University from 1937 to 1962. His transformative leadership oversaw the university's dramatic expansion in size, academic stature, and international reach, shaping it into a major research institution. Wells later served as the university's chancellor until his death, remaining its most influential and beloved figure.

Early life and education

Herman B Wells was born on June 7, 1902, in Jamestown, Indiana, to Joseph Granville Wells and Anna Bernice Harting. He attended local public schools before enrolling at Indiana University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1924. He continued his studies at the university, receiving a master's degree in economics in 1927. During his graduate work, he served as an instructor and developed a close mentorship with prominent faculty, including the economist William A. Rawles. His early career included a stint as a statistician for the State of Indiana and as a bank examiner, experiences that honed his administrative and financial acumen.

Career at Indiana University

Wells began his formal administrative career at Indiana University in 1935 when he was appointed dean of the School of Commerce and Finance. His exceptional leadership during the Great Depression led the IU Board of Trustees to appoint him acting president in 1937 and president permanently later that year. His presidency was marked by unprecedented growth, including the establishment of the School of Medicine in Indianapolis and the creation of regional campuses such as Indiana University South Bend. He aggressively expanded graduate education, founded the renowned School of Music, and recruited world-class scholars like the biologist Tracy Sonneborn and the poet Robert Frost. Wells was a steadfast defender of academic freedom, famously protecting the employment of the controversial sex researcher Alfred Kinsey.

National and international service

Beyond Indiana University, Wells played significant roles in national and global affairs. During World War II, he served as director of the Treasury Department's overseas branch in London. After the war, he was appointed as a cultural ambassador and advisor on higher education to the U.S. occupation government in Germany, helping to rebuild its university system. He served on the United States National Commission for UNESCO and was a delegate to its general conferences. Wells also held leadership positions in organizations like the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, influencing national educational policy.

Legacy and honors

Herman B Wells's legacy is profoundly embedded in the fabric of Indiana University. The university's main library, the Herman B Wells Library, is named in his honor, as is the prestigious Wells Scholars Program. He received over 40 honorary degrees from institutions including the University of Notre Dame and University of Michigan. Among his many awards were the American Academy of Arts and Sciences' Charles Frankel Prize and the NASULGC's Distinguished Service Award. The annual Herman B Wells Celebration at the university continues to commemorate his enduring impact on academic excellence and campus life.

Personal life and death

Wells never married and was widely known for his unwavering dedication to Indiana University, often referring to it as his family. He was a noted bon vivant who enjoyed hosting parties at his home, the historic Hoagy Carmichael house in Bloomington, Indiana. An avid traveler and art collector, he bequeathed his extensive personal art collection and his estate to the university's foundation. Herman B Wells died of congestive heart failure on March 18, 2000, in Bloomington, Indiana, at the age of 97. He was interred at Valhalla Memory Gardens in Bloomington, and his funeral was attended by thousands from the university community and beyond.

Category:American university presidents Category:Indiana University people Category:1902 births Category:2000 deaths